For those of you in the U.S., we'd like to wish you all a very happy Memorial Day weekend. Here in America, the Memorial Day holiday is celebrated the last Monday in May, and is a day devoted to remembering the men and women who gave their lives while serving our country in the Armed Forces. Unofficially, it also marks the start of the summer season when pools open and grills are fired up for barbecues with friends and family.
It definitely feels like summer here in Old Town Alexandria. The temperatures have topped 90 degrees the last several days and the humidity is already wreaking havoc on my hair. Thanks to a generous offer from a friend, we hightailed it out of town to spend a night in her home on Tilghman Island, approximately a 90 mile drive away on the Chesapeake Bay (but only 40 miles as the crow flies).
Saturday and Sunday were absolutely gorgeous. The sun was shining, there was a slight breeze, and the heat seemed more bearable near the water. We also made the wonderful discovery that Lulu can swim! Although timid at first, she soon got into the action trying to eat waves, dunking her head under, and even doing a little doggie paddle to get out to where I was standing in the water. As a competitive swimmer and former lifeguard, I was a proud mom to say the least. Here I am, coaxing her into the water for the first time.
She also reveled in her time off leash (no city traffic here to be weary of) and spent time exploring the tall grasses and running along the rocks.
We spent Saturday evening relaxing over a home cooked meal with a bottle of sparkling wine brought back from our trip to the Napa Valley earlier this month.
On our way back to Alexandria yesterday, we stopped for lunch in Saint Michael's, Maryland. This charming waterside town is a great destination for a day trip if you're ever in the area.
Its quaint shops and restaurants make for a wonderful day of exploration, and in true Old Town Home fashion, we even hit up a couple local open houses. Our favorite was this 1850s Victorian, complete with water views and a darling carriage house. (For anyone interested in seeing the full tour, stay tuned, we have an Open Housing post planned later this week.)
But now that we're back home, we're back to work. Alex made a quick trip out to the local home improvement store last night to pick up a few essentials.
I'll be replenishing our basil supply, thanks to the greedy and reckless back yard squirrels, as well as replanting the space in our organic square foot garden where our pathetic cantaloupe once held on for dear life. (Sadly he lost his battle several weeks ago.) Alex, on the other hand, will be spending a good portion of the day insulating the attic space above our master bathroom.
Summer already feels like it's in full swing. All we need to do today is to fit in a little hammock time and I'd say it was one heck of a Memorial Day weekend.
Does it feel like summer yet in your city? What are your plans to celebrate the season, both indoors and out? Any good DIY projects planned? We hope we're not alone in our excitement for all the good things to come.
